There have been 10 teachers in Cornwall suspended from schools for alleged improper relationships with pupils in the last three years.

The improper relationships all involved alleged sexual contact or behaviour between a teacher and a pupil.

Devon and Cornwall Police carried out investigations into all of the cases.

Figures released by Cornwall Council under the Freedom of Information Act showed there were four cases of alleged sexual contact or behaviour in the financial year 2010-11, three cases in 2011-12 and a further three in 2012-13.

In all of the cases the teacher suspected of improper behaviour was suspended.

The information, released following a request from BBC Newsbeat, does not reveal what the final outcome was following suspension.

Cornwall Council refused to say at which schools the alleged relationships took place or in which areas. The council insisted that any further information could lead to the identification of the staff or pupils involved.

Devon and Cornwall Police have so far declined to comment on what action was taken in each case.

3 comments

I agree it is one sided to ruin a teacher's career/life because of unproved allegations.
More care is needed, and only the strongest proved cases require this action.
Where is the innocent until proven guilty? Even when the teacher is cleared of any misconduct they are effectively finished.

If guilty I agree with naming and shaming but in this day and age it is all too common for pupils, male and female, to make up stories about a teacher they don't like and that teacher, innocent or guilty, has to be suspended. I also think that where this is found to be the case the spiteful pupil should also be named and shamed.

Name and shame , if they are found to have had improper contact , a teacher is responsible for teaching lots of children and if the teacher is suspended or is off for a long period of time then returns to school then the guessing game begins any way , so for the council to object is more like a cover up.